Coffee and Alzheimer’s Prevention: Grounds for optimism?

There has been a recent buzz (yes, pun intended, as are the ones below) in the dementia research world that coffee may offer a protective effect against cognitive decline.

Back in January we reported on a study from Scandanavia which concluded that drinking between three and five cups of coffee a day in middle age could decrease the risk of dementia by 65 per cent.

Now, a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests that mice exposed to a dose of 500 milligrams of caffeine (the human equivalent of 5 cups a day) were found to have a 40% reduction in the amounts of beta-amyloid protein in their brains. The caffeinated mice also performed comparatively better on tests measuring their memory and thinking skills, their performance being commensurate with normal aged mice.

Although Peter and I are both coffee drinkers, we do feel we need to curtail in the hype when stories like this percolate in the blogosphere. A quick glance at my RSS feed for “Alzheimer’s news” revealed the following unfiltered and worryingly hyperbolic titles:

Coffee Could Reverse Alzheimer’s

CAFFEINE FOUND TO STAVE OFF – AND TREAT – ALZHEIMER’S!

Coffee ‘may reverse Alzheimer’s’ (In Mice!)

Coffee may prevent Alzheimer’s

Coffee May Restore Memory Loss From Alzheimer’s

Coffee Could Cure Alzheimer’s Says University of Florida Study

First of all, it goes without saying that the recent research was done on MICE that have neither human brains nor the same biological expression of so-called human “AD”. The doctor interviewed in the CBS report failed to mention this, and did not adequately explain the study’s results or limitations. Much more research — IN HUMANS! — is needed before we can claim a protective effect for coffee or suggest that it may be a potential therapeutic target as the lead author of the study did.

Until then, don’t just run to Starbucks for your brain aging fix — head to the woods, or to your library, or a local museum, or go volunteer in the community. The coffee binges are better left for the birdscollege students mice.

“William Thies, chief medical officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, called the study interesting but noted that other substances have reduced beta-amyloid and improved cognition in mice, but have flopped in humans.”

The article goes on to say “Human Alzheimer’s is a complex constellation of symptoms and events that destroy brain cells. Scientists are far from understanding how these factors interrelate.”

So in this case, both the Alzheimer’s Association and Stephen Nohlgren (the St. Pete Times reporter)showed the common sense that Richard talks about. Are you seeing any trend towards this kind of careful analysis and away from the breathless hype?

@Richard: lol. I guess my common sense has survived the Ph.D process, although I will rely on people like you and Mona to keep me honest!

@Mona: Thank you for sending along the measured words that appeared in the St Pete Times, which are refreshing. I would say that such a scientifically accurate phrasing is still rather rare in the vast discourse of AD, but this is undoubtedly a high profile signal that things could be on the upswing. Time will tell.